RADICAL plans are afoot to change the way Welsh football is run by modernising and slimming down the cumbersome 27-man Football Association of Wales committee.

RADICAL plans are afoot to change the way Welsh football is run by modernising and slimming down the cumbersome 27-man Football Association of Wales committee.

The big shake-up being proposed would see the FAW move into the 21st century - like the English FA and the WRU - with a slicker, more professionally-run body.

Under the proposals, seven grass-roots football Grey Suits, who currently make decisions like who the Wales manager should be, would lose their FAW seats.

In their places would come two professional football figures. One would be a representative from Wales' Big Three of Cardiff City, Swansea City or Wrexham and the other would be a League of Wales delegate.

The idea for much-needed modernisation of the FAW has been put forward by visionary officials running the Spar Mid Wales League.

Under a new two-tier plan being mooted, senior figures running Welsh football would focus on the key decision-making and not spend hours at every meeting debating minor grass-roots issues.

In turn, the grass-roots seven would stand aside and be put in charge of how the game is run at the lower levels.

The shake-up proposals will go before a rules change meeting attended by the FAW's 160-plus member clubs in Cardiff on May11.

Letters to the clubs outlining the need for change have already been sent out by Spar Mid Wales League bigwigs.

The Western Mail has received a copy of the letter from one of the recipient clubs.

It reads, "There can be absolutely no doubt that such changes are well overdue."

The letter goes on, "Many clubs and individuals have already indicated their support for this change.

"The Mid Wales League firmly believe that a pro-active approach for change is well overdue. We are sure the changes will lead to significant improvements in the running of football in Wales."

The men in danger of losing their seats of power are actually unelected members of the FAW.

Six of them represent area associations of Wales and are nominated for the FAW by junior clubs. The other represents schools football in Wales.

Historically, those seven have been involved in the key decision-making process - like who the Wales manager should be, voting on bumper TV and sponsorship issues and determining what should happen to our leading clubs.

But the belief is they should stand aside with senior football figures taking their place.

Some are so alarmed at the prospect of losing their seats of power, they are understood to be already ringing clubs to canvas support.

But the call for change is bound to receive a huge groundswell of support when it goes to the vote next month.